Prelaw

A UW-Stout Preprofessional Program

Introduction

University of Wisconsin-Stout does not offer a degree in law. UW-Stout does, however, offer a preprofessional curriculum in the environment of a smaller university. Students typically complete a Stout degree in Applied Social Sciences; Business Administration; Human Development and Family Studies; or Psychology, while paying attention to recommended coursework.

As soon as possible, you should determine the entrance requirements of the school of your choice to help plan a specific preprofessional program for eventual credit transfer.

Several regional schools offer law degree programs. The following is a partial list:

Hamline University
St. Paul, Minnesota

Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota

University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin

William and Mitchell
St. Paul, Minnesota

In addition, the pre-law adviser has current catalogues from schools across the country, which are available to interested students.

Pre-Law Curriculum

There is no single set of courses which specifically prepares someone for law school and a subsequent legal career. The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools encourages pre-law students “to fill your undergraduate curriculum with broad, diverse, and challenging courses.” UW-Stout’s general education requirements provides students with an opportunity to take such classes during their freshman and sophomore years.

The following is a selected group of interrelated courses which would well-serve a pre-law student. It is only recommended as a sample, from which the student could certainly deviate, but these courses follow the guide’s recommendation that pre-law students take courses which will teach them “to read, think and write well, and have some understanding of what shapes human experience.”

Freshman Year

First Semester

ENGL-111

Freshman English — Honors I

3 cr.

POLS-210

American Government

3 cr.

HIST-120

Early U.S. History

3 cr.

PSYC-110

General Psychology

3 cr.

SPCOM-100

Fundamentals of Speech

2 cr.

Total

14 cr.

Second Semester

ENGL-112

Freshman English — Honors II

3 cr.

SOC-110

Introductory Sociology

3 cr.

HIST-121

Modern U.S. History

3 cr.

LOG-301

Introduction to Logical Thinking

3 cr.

POLS-250

Politics and Technology

3 cr.

Total

15 cr.

Sophomore Year

First Semester

LIT-248

American Literature

3 cr.

MATH-118

Concepts of Mathematics

4 cr.

ECON-210

Principles of Economics I

3 cr.

FN-102

Nutrition for Healthy Living

2 cr.

STAT-130

Elementary Statistics

2 cr.

Total

14 cr.

Second Semester

PHIL-235

General Ethics

3 cr.

SOC-315

Criminology

3 cr.

BIO-122

Introductory Biology

3 cr.

ENGL-347

Critical Writing

3 cr.

ECON-215

Principles of Economics II

3 cr.

Total

15 cr.

These courses could be taken in any semester, depending on availability and the student's schedule. Some semesters, the student may also begin taking courses in their degree program.